Vapor seal for dispensing nozzles

ABSTRACT

BY MAGNETIC ATTRACTIVE FORCES TO THEREBY FORM A POSITIVE FLAT FACE SEAL AGAINST THE OUTER END OF SAID FILLPIPE. 5. IN COMBINATION, A LIQUID FUEL DISPERSING NOZZLE WITH A DISCHARGE SPOUT FOR INSERTION INTO THE FERROMAGNETIC FILLPIPE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL TANK, AN ELONGATED IMPERFORATE FLEXIBLE BELLOWS OF CYCLINDRICAL OUTER CONFIGURATION SEALED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE BODY OF SAID SPOUT, SAID BELLOWS SURROUNDING SAID SPOUT IN SAPCED RELATION THERETO TO PROVIDE A VAPOR RECEIVING CHAMBER THEREAROUND WHICH IS COUPLED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID FILLPIPE; AND A CONTINUOUS SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SEALING ELEMENT OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BELLOWS, SAID SEALING ELEMENT BEING HELD AGAINST THE OUTER END OF SAID FILLPIPE

Jan. 7, 1975 w a, 55 Re. 28,294

VAPOR SEAL FOR DISPENSING ROZZLES Original Filed July 22, 1969 VAPORS TOHOUSI mvzmon: WILLIAM B. HANSEL @Muz ATTY

United States Patent 28,294 VAPOR SEAL FOR DISPENSING NOZZLES William B.Hansel, Media, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, Pa.

Original No. 3,566,928, dated Mar. 2, 1971, Ser. No.

843,719, July 22, 1969. Application for reissue Feb.

5, 1973, Ser. No. 329,934

Int. Cl. B65b 31/06 US. Cl. 141-52 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Vapors displaced from a liquid fuel tank bythe liquid fuel being dispensed thereinto through a nozzle are collectedby means of a flexible bellows which surrounds the nozzle and one end ofwhich is sealed to the fillpipe of the fuel tank.

This invention relates to a sealing device for dispensing nozzles, forexample of the type commonly used at service stations to dispense liquidfuel into motor vehicles such as automobiles.

When liquid hydrocarbon fuel (such as gasoline) is dispensed into thefuel tank of a motor vehicle, it displaces vapors from this tank; thesedisplaced vapors contain hydrocarbons in the amount of approximately0.2% of the fuel delivered. If these vapors were allowed to escape tothe atmosphere, the hydrocarbons included therein would add to the airpollution problem. In addition, these vapors, containing as they docombustible components, would present something of a fire hazard to theoperator.

In the past, a structure has been proposed for providing a vapor-tightseal between a gasoline dispensing nozzle and a fuel tank, forcollecting the vapors displaced from the tank by the entering fuel. Thisstructure, however, functions as a so-called tight-fill system, and hasmechanical means for both clamping the nozzle in the fillpipe of thetank and also providing force for the seal. This structure incorporatesa seal release mechanism, and also an automatic fuel shut-off responsiveto a build-up of pressure. This structure comprises a nozzle of somewhatunusual design, with the internal clamping mechanism forming an integralpart thereof, and would require the replacement of allpresently-existing nozzles with this nozzle of different design. Inaddition, some fillpipes will not accept this particular clampingmechanism. When this occurs, the automatic nozzle must be held in placeby an operator, and this is undesirable.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel vapor seal for fueldispensing nozzles.

Another object is to provide a vapor seal of simplified design, suchthat it can be readily applied as an attachment to presently-existingnozzles.

A further object is to provide a vapor seal of universal application,which will perform satisfactorily with all types of fillpipes presentlyin use.

The objects of this invention are accomplished briefly, in the followingmanner A flexible bellows, sized to surround a dispensing nozzle ofconventional construction, has a ring-shaped magnetic sealing assemblyat its lower end which is adapted to form a flat face seal at the upperend of a fillpipe into which the nozzle is inserted. The upper end ofthe bellows sealingly engages the outer surface of the nozzle, and thisend of the bellows has a tubular coupling through which ice the vaporscollected in the bellows may be led off for suitable disposition.

A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a combined elevational and cross-sectional view showing adispensing nozzle equipped with the vapor seal arrangement of thisinvention, in dispensing position in a fillpipe;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, on an enlargedscale; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, a gasoline dispensing nozzle 1, of a typewidely used in the industry, is adapted to be connected to the outer endof a dispensing hose (not shown). The nozzle 1 has the usualpivotally-mounted lever 2 for operating a shut-off valve (not shown)which is located in the nozzle body, and also [is] has a conventionalpivotally-mounted. spring-biased clip 3 which coacts with lever 2 toprovide an arrangement for holding the shut-off valve open without thenecessity of manually holding lever 2 in its open position. A dischargespout 4 is provided on nozzle 1, opposite the hose connection to thenozzle, this spout having a somewhat curved outer configuration suchthat it is readily insertable into the metallic fillpipe 5 of a motorvehicle fuel tank (not shown). The usual resilient clamp wire 6, woundaround the outside of spout 4. assists in holding the nozzle spout inthe fillpipe 5. Also. the usual soft, impact-absorbing rubber cover 7 isprovided on the forward end of the body of nozzle 1. In FIG. 1, only theupper end of the fillpipe 5 is shown.

The foregoing has described certain distinctive features of a well-knownand presently-existing gasoline dispensing nozzle. The attachmentaccording to the present invention. which operates to provide avapor-tight seal between the nozzle (or the spout attached thereto) andthe fillpipe, so as to collect vapors displaced from the tank by thefuel being dispensed thereinto, will now be described.

A flexible bellows 8, made of a soft elastomeric or rubber-likesynthetic material which is unaffected by gasoline, surrounds the spout4 at the upper end thereof, adjacent the point of attachment of thisspout to the nozzle proper.

At its upper end, the elongated hollow member or bellows 8 has anintegral cylindrical portion or collar 9 which is adhesively orotherwise suitablv secured in a vapor-ti ht manner to the outercylindrical surface of the spout 4. The upper end of the bellows couldbe secured to or made integral with the lower end of the rubber cover 7.

At or near its upper end, the bellows 8 is provided with a tubularcoupling 10, to which the outer end of a tube or hose (not shown) mav beattached, for abstracting vapors from the interior of the bellows.

One face of a composite essentially flat annuiar or ring-shaped sealingassembly 11 is secured in vapor-tight fa hion (adhesively, or in othersuitable manner) to the lower end of bellows 8. The assembly 11 consistsof three separate elements secured together in a concentric arrangement,an inner pole piece 12 of a low-carbon steel, an intermediate element 13of the material commonly known as magnetic rubber," and an outer polepiece 14 of a low-carbon steel. The elements 12-14 are all annular orring-shaped. with the inner cylindrical wall of element 13 secured tothe outer cylindrical wall of element 12, and with the outer cvlindricalwall of element 13 secured to the inner cylindrical wall of element 14.The ID. of element 12 is greater than the OD. of spout 4, thus providingan annular space around the outside of this spout; this space provides apassage for vapors from the fillpipe 5 into the lower end of bellows 8.The axial length of the outer pole piece 14 is preferably greater thanthat of the inner pole piece 12, and the radial width of pole piece 14is preferably somewhat less than that of pole piece 12 (see FIG. 3).

The material from which element 13 is made is rubberlike and containsimbedded magnetic particles, so as to render the element as a wholemagnetic.

In use, when the spout 4 is inserted down into the fillpipe 5, theinherent resiliency of the bellows 8 provides enough downwardly-actionforce to position the sealing assembly 11 in contact with the outer endof the fillpipe 5. The magnetic attractive forces between the magneticelement 13 and the metallic fillpipe then provide the force to make aHat face vapor-tight seal against the outer end of the fillpipe, thusforcing vapors which issue from this end of the fillpipe to travelthrough the annular space between the spout 4 and the inner diameter ofelement 12, into the interior of bellows 8. It may be noted here thatthe interior of bellows 8 is thus coupled to the fillpipe 5.

The ferromagnetic pole pieces 12 and 14 greatly enhance the strength ofthe magnetic attractive forces between the magnetic element 13 and theouter end of the metallic fillpipe 5.

As gasoline is used from a motor vehicle fuel tank, the empty spacecreated in the tank by withdrawing gasoline fills with gasoline vaporsthat are generally in thermodynamic equilibrium with the liquid gasolinephase remaining in the tank. When the tank is refilled with gasoline byway of nozzle 1 and spout 4, these vapors are forced out of the tank andtravel upwardly in fillpipe 5, to its upper end. These displaced vaporsare forced to travel around the outside of spout 4 into the bellows 8,because of the vapor-tight seal between the outer end of fillpipe 5 andassembly 11. The displaced vapors are collected in the bellows 8 and aresent back to the housing of the gasoline dispensing apparatus through ahose which is strapped to the normal gasoline delivery hose and isconnected at its outer end to the coupling at the upper end of thebellows.

At the dispensing apparatus housing, the vapors can either be condensedand the condensate then fed into the dispensing hose, or they can bereturned to the underground gasoline storage tanks by a suitable pipingarrangement.

The vapor seal arrangement of this invention has several advantages,among which may be mentioned the following:

(1) The bellows and fiat face seal combination can be attached topresently-used dispensing nozzles.

(2) The vapors can be returned to tthe dispensing apparatus housing,condensed, and then dispensed as fuel. This feature could prove to beeconomically attractive, since the displaced vapors contain hydrocarbonsin the amount of approximately 0.2% of the fuel delivered.

(3) The recovery of the vapors as contrasted to their release to theatmosphere) reduces the fire hazard presented to the operator.

(4) If the vapors are collected, the hydrocarbons in the air can besubstantially reduced, thus helping in the air pollution problem.

(5) With a face seal such as described, blow-back and spillage aresubstantially eliminated.

(6) Higher pumping rates are possible when using the attachment of thisinvention, as compared to a nozzle without the attachment.

(7) Less foam is developed during the tank filling operation, thusensuring a sharper automatic shut-off for a full" tank.

(8) No "top-otf is required, in contrast to a conventional nozzle.

It has been found, in tests carried out with a device actually builtaccording to the teachings of this invention, that a fully vapor-tightseal can be formed with substantially all of the various vehiclegasoline tank fiillpipes now in use and now known. Thus, the device hasbeen proved to be very effective and efficient.

The invention claimed is:

[1. In combination, a liquid fuel dispensing nozzle with a dischargespout for insertion into the metallic fillpipe of a motor vehicle fueltank, an elongated continuous imperforate flexible bellows ofcylindrical outer configuration sealed at one end thereof to the body ofsaid spout, said bellows surrounding said spout in spaced relationthereto to provide a chamber therearound, said chamber being coupled tothe interior of said fillpipes; and separate means carried by the otherend of said bellows for forming a positive fiat face seal against theouter end of said fillpipe] s [2. Combination of claim 1, including alsoa coupling at said one end of said bellows constructed and arranged toenable vapors to be abstracted from said chamber] [3. Combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein said separate means includes a flatmagnetic sealing element secured to said other end of said bellows andheld against the outer end of said fillpipe by magnetic attractiveforces] [4. Combination set forth in claim 3, including also a couplingat said one end of said bellows constructed and arranged to enablevapors to be abstracted from said chamber] 5. In combination, a liquidfuel dispensing nozzle with a discharge spout for insertion into theferromagnetic fillpipe of a motor vehicle fuel tank, an elongatedimperforate flexible bellows of cylindrical outer configuration sealedat one end thereof to the body of said spout, said bellows surroundingsaid spout in spaced relation thereto to provide a vapor receivingchamber therearound which is coupled to the interior of said fillpipe;and a continuous substantially flat scaling element of magnetic materialsecured to the other end of said bellows, said sealing element beingheld against the outer end of said fillpipe by magnetic attractiveforces to thereby form a positive flat face seal against the outer endof said fillpipe.

6. Combination of Claim 5, including also a coupling adjacent said oneend of said bellows and communicating with said chamber for enablingvapors to be abstracted from the interior thereof.

7. In combination, a liquid fuel dispensing nozzle with a dischargespout for insertion into the ferromagnetic fillpipe of a motor vehiclefuel tank, an elongated imperforare flexible tubular member sealed atoneend thereof to the body of said spout, said member surrounding saidspout in spaced relation thereto to provide a vapor receiving chamberthcrearound which is coupled to the interior of said fillpipe, and acontinuous substantially flat scaling element of magnetic materialsecured to the other end of said member, said sealing element being heldagainst the outer end of said fillpipe by magnetic attractive forces tothereby form a positive flat face seal against the outer end of saidfillpipe.

8. Combination of Claim 5, including also a coupling adjacent said oneend of said member and communicating with said chamber for enablingvapors to be abstracted from the interior thereof.

9. An elongated imperforate flexible tubular member adapted to be sealedat one end thereof to a dispensing nozzle discharge spout, said memberbeing adapted to surround said spout to form a vapor receiving chambertherearound which is capable of being coupled to the interior of a motorvehicle fuel tank fillpipe; a coupling adjacent said one end of saidmember and communicating with said chamber for enabling vapors to beabstracted from the interior thereof, and a continuous substantiallyflat sealing element of magnetic material secured to the other end ofsaid member, said sealing element being capable of being held againstthe outer end of such a fillpipe by magnetic attractive forces tothereby form a positive flat face seal against the outer end of such a(References on following page) patent.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original UNITED STATESPATENTS Merriam 141-291 Mintz 285-9 M Imming 285-9 M Friedman 285-9 MDonally 141-290 Swilzer 141-290 Gosselin 141-290 Beall 141-59 6 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,292,909 4/1962 France 141-290 1,322,086 2/1963 France 141-290119,493 8/1947 Sweden 141-290 5 1,163,062 2/1964 Germany 141-383 HOUSTONS. BELL, J 11., Primary Examiner U.S. CL. X.R.

